by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

PHILADELPHIA -- It is one of the great mysteries attached to another Philadelphia Eagles season on the brink of disaster.What happened to the pass rush?

Last season, the Eagles tied the Minnesota Vikings for the NFL lead with 50 sacks. Now, with the same key D-linemen in tow, the Eagles rank next-to-last in the league with nine sacks -- which puts them on pace for a grand total of 21 sacks for the year.

"The things they're doing (to combat the Eagles' rush) are different," offers defensive end Jason Babin, who ranked third in the NFL last season with 18 sacks but has seen such production plummet. He leads the team with a paltry 2 1/2 sacks.

"To compare it to last year is like comparing apples to oranges. That's not fair."

Actually, comparisons and questions are quite valid.

The pass rush was supposed to be a strength on a team that would contend for the playoffs. Instead, the lack of a rush is a weakness on a team that is skidding again.

Babin maintains that opposing offenses have beefed up blocking schemes, often using max protection such as extra tight ends or running backs who chip the rushers. Quarterbacks are also prone to release the football on quicker throws, he says.

And maybe the decreased production of the Eagles' offense is a factor. Philadelphia heads into Monday night's game at the New Orleans Saints averaging 17.1 points per game, more than a touchdown less than it averaged during the 2011 season (24.8). So the defense has not played with very many leads this season.

The Eagles (3-4) ended a three-game drought with zero sacks by collecting two sacks during Sunday's loss against the Atlanta Falcons, the unit's first game under new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who replaced the fired Juan Castillo.

Under Bowles, the defense will undoubtedly blitz more and try to incorporate other creative twists to generate the sorely-needed pressure.

"You saw us do a couple different things last week, just moving 'backers up on the line or bringing 'backers (on blitzes)," said Eagles coach Andy Reid. "We got hurt on one with a penalty. We did a nice job covering it and then we got called on a holding call on it. We made the quarterback flush out and we put him in a position there to make a throw.

"We're doing a couple things there to mix it up. We can continue to get better and make sure that we're putting the guys in the right position to do it."

Besides the new coordinator, another move puts rookie first-round defensive tackle Fletcher Cox into the starting lineup. The Eagles still use a deep, eight-man rotation on the D-line, but Cox has earned his promotion to line up with the first unit, Reid said.

While fresh blood helps, the numbers fuel questions about whether the aging veterans have diminishing skills. Babin and defensive tackle Jenkins (one sack), who came over as free agents in 2011, are in their ninth seasons. Defensive end Trent Cole ( 1 1/2 sacks) is in his eighth campaign.

Last year, Babin, Cole and Jenkins combined for 34 1/2 sacks.

Says Babin, "We always feel we can do better. That's the bottom line."